Trading Computer

[Timnotnicebutdim]

Hello all

I used to occasionally post on advfn, hope someone can point me in the right direction.

I am currently running a pc that has a dual processor and it copes with all the applications i run which includes a quad card to handle 4 screens,e signal,3 separate layouts from cmc,my American brokers trading platform,a refco forex trading platform,plus various websites i might open up.

I have decided to buy a spare machine after a scare i had this week.

Do i need a dual processor?,has anyone else got a similar heavily loaded set up,if so can you recommend anyone i can go to to purchase something suitable.

I live in Leeds but i dont suppose it matters where i buy it from.

 

[ChartMan]

No, you don't need a dual processor system.....

 

[mutantcar]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that there isn't much point having a dual processor system unless your applications are designed to make use of them.

If I can remember where I read this, I'll post it up.

 

[wheezergeezer]

Tim, if your pc is for backup then you probably don't need a duel processor , a high spec machine would be capable of full-filling all your needs, i.e. the fastest processor you can afford either Intel or AMD, and lots of Ram, 512 minimum, (1024 or higher or 2 x 512) plus video card etc............good luck

 

[Racer]

Think lots of RAM would probably be more useful that dual processors? I use 2Gig and want to put another gig in it soon

 

[ewilcox]

I would hazard a guess that the most important part of a trading PC is the graphics card(s) you use to drive multiple monitors. Dual processors will improve things a bit (stop hangs in switching applications) but unless the programs have been programmed to make use of 2 CPUs (and trust me this is highly unlikely) you won't see any speedup in any one application per say. If I was building a trading PC:

2.6Ghz P4 or AMD64 CPU
512MB RAM
80GB Hard disk
DVD recorder (for backups)
Matrox G400 quad monitor output graphics card
4 x 17" tft monitors

If you are worried about crashes then double up the main computer and get a switching box for monitors and keyboard to make switching between pc's as easy as clicking a switch.

With hardware prices so low you probably will end up spending more on software than hardware anyway!

All imho.

E.

 

[ChartMan]

That's ok but I wouldn't spend out on the matrox 4 head. way too good way too expensive to get 4 monitors up. The video requirements for trading are in the basement in terms of demand on resources. A cheap AGP dual head <£50 and a pair of PCI cards <£15 will be more than adequate. Gives you more to spend on CPU power and memory. :cheesy:

 

[a320]

I've just updated one of my systems & the spec is as follows.. )

AMD 64 - 3500 ( 939)
1024mb Ram ( 2 x 512mb DDR 400)
Asus A8V Deluxe ( 939)
Thermaltake Venus CPU cooler
250Gb Maxtor 150 SATA 7200 RPM/16mb cache
128mb ATI Radeon ( with DVI)
NEC ND-3500 DVD+/- 16xdvd/dvd-rw 4x/dual layer 4x
1.44 Nec floppy
Thermaltake ATX Case ( with temp display / side window/ 400 Watt PSU )
XP Pro
x2 Relisys 19" TFT TL966B

Cost Just over £800 ( including Vat ) excluding the TFT 's. I never had a problem with Relisys, they use the fujitsu siemens screen & retail at a fair price around £300 inc vat. ( Plus for me they have support in manchester, handy if things do ever go t^ts up,,, :cheesy: )

 

[roguetrader]

Hi a320, nice machine. Just a quick ? Why XP pro, upgrading my system at the moment and pc tech is asking me why bother with xp pro put the xtra money to something else. Thnx

 

[a320]

Got a good deal...
My other system runs XP pro so I just kept things the same... My lap top has XP home on it and the stability is the same

 

[roguetrader]

Thnx a320

 

[ardhill]

I am currently considering a new trading computer, and it may well be dual processor. But I DO know that my trading software does utilise dual processors.

But saying that, I am currently not using dual processors and all is well.

I feel for a back-up machine, dual processors is a little over kill unless you have plenty of money spare. Let's face it, a back up machine is only used until you get your main one fixed if it goes down. You won't be using it for too long at a time.

As others have mentioned - invest in the Ram instead.

 

[roguetrader]

Resources

Any multi-chart users out there,how many realtime charts do you typically run, and what sort of cpu / memory combo runs them ok.
Thnx

 

[a320]

I can run esignal with 6 to 10 charts open (not tried any more spreed between 2 screens)....No problems at all.. even on my lap top which is a P4 2.6 (northwood) with 512mb ram ( DDR 2700) Linked to a 19" TFT for the multi screen..

* including T & S ect...

 

[minx]

I run another 17" TFT from my laptop so I have 2 screens and run eSignal, my trading software, hotcomm, internet, excel, email and yahoo+msn messenger, wireless broadband and computer games (sometimes) at the same time. The processor ususally runs between 2-10% and the memory never seems to overload. Its a 1.6Ghz centrino with 1GB memory. I got it from Systemax. Absolutely brilliant and a pretty good price compared with the likes of Dell, etc.....

 

[roguetrader]

Thanx for the replies guys, am replacing my main computer since it is struggling to cope, have seen various suggested specs on the board but since people trade different instruments with different styles just needed to see what people using quite a few realtime charts were running. ideally I want to run about a dozen charts over 3 monitors

 

[Roberto]

ideally I want to run about a dozen charts over 3 monitors

Personally I'd hate it, but I think that most of the decent PC's on offer will actually cope with that, these days. My guess is that the amount of RAM is actually going to be more significant to you than anything else. I've just bought a Fujitsu-Siemens from Comet ... 3.4GHz P4 and 1MB of RAM and I can run absolutely everything I have, including several live charts, and play both poker and backgammon at the same time (I don't play many hands at the poker table, which also helps: the more you fold, the more you win). Wonderful. Now all I have to do is see if I can still make a profit ...

 

[des44]

Nice thread..

I will be building my own trading machine soon. below are my thoughts so far.

P4 3.4 (3.6 are having over-heating problems)
1 MB Ram (not yet convinced that another MB of ram would matter)
Motherboard = Asus p4c800 e Deluxe
Gaphics card = Matrox QID (or two Radeon 9200 128mg)
Raid 1 Serial ATA 400GB
CD RW with DVD (fast) (don't need DVD burner)
Monitors (4) ViewSonic VP191b (19”)
Backups made online to @backup

d-

 

[wheezergeezer]

des44, if you can fit it more Ram is better, its faster for the PC to access data from Ram that anywhere else.................Good Luck

 

[des44]

I have heard that RAM over 1GB is rendered useless due to a computer not ususally being able to tap into much more than that, so why spend the money?

d-